Australian rider Matt Goss was dealt a setback yesterday in his bid to win the sprinter’s green jersey on the Tour de France, picking up a 30-point penalty for coming out of his sprint line at the end of the 12th stage.

After moving ahead of green jersey holder Peter Sagan at the intermediate sprint, Goss paid the penalty for closing the door on his Slovakian rival in the final straight to the finish.

Under the Tour’s rules, Goss kept the 23 points he earned during the 226-kilometer stage won by David Millar of Britain, but was docked 30 for his move.

Sagan leads the green jersey standings with 254 points, 56 more than Goss.

“I need to move on, we’ve got more days left in the Tour de France,” Goss said. “It’s definitely going to make my job harder.”

Goss’ move prompted angry gestures from Sagan, who looks all but guaranteed to win the sprint category in his first Tour, having already claimed three stage wins.

“If he had beaten me normally, I would have accepted it,” said Sagan. “I wouldn’t have been happy, but I would have accepted it. If he’s lost points, that’s his fault not mine.”

Sagan said he tried to speak with Goss at the finish but that the Australian made it clear he didn’t want to talk.

Despite the setback, Goss said he was not giving up and had set his eyes on Saturday’s flat stage to the seaside resort of Le Cap d’Agde.

“I have the same goals: to win a stage and win the green jersey,” Goss said. “I’m definitely concentrated on tomorrow’s stage. Let’s see what we can do.”